TITUSVILLE, Fla. – A Titusville police detective has been placed on paid administrative leave after a video of a recent arrest posted on social media called into question the detective's use of force, officials with the police department said.
In the video posted on Facebook on Wednesday, two detectives with the department's Special Investigations Section, or VICE, are seen arresting Amari Hair, 20, of Titusville, on drug possession charges at a Cumberland Farms on South Hopkins Avenue.
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While the detectives were trying to place Hair under arrest for driving without a valid driver's license the suspect became "very agitated" when detectives tried to search his waistband, according to the arrest report.
While the detectives were attempting to place handcuffs on Hair, Detective Bernd punched him in the face twice, according to conversations overheard on the video:
“You punched me in my face,” Hair says.
“Yes, I did,” Bernd responds.
Bernd said in the report that because Hair continued to try and reach for his waistband and was not obeying orders he "struck Amari in the head to gain compliance." Hair continued to struggle "forcing Det. Bernd to strike Amari a second time in the head," according to the report.
Hair's nose began to bleed, detectives said.
A statement from the Titusville Police Department said that the agency will be "transparent in our findings" after its Internal Affairs Investigation is complete.
"Upon seeing the video, members of command staff at the police department immediately removed the detective from his duties and placed him on leave so that a due process investigation can be completed on the use of force during the arrest," according to a statement from the police department.
Hair is charged with possession of heroin and hydromorphone that detectives said were found in his underwear. He was treated at Parrish Medical Center before being booked into the Brevard County Detention Center.
According to the arrest report, both detectives involved had previous encounters with Hair in 2015, and 2016 and in November 2017, all involving drug-related charges.
News 6 partner Florida Today spoke with Hair’s father, Alonzo Hair, who told the newspaper that one of the detectives has been harassing his son for years.
"They've got it in for my son," Alonzo Hair told Florida Today. "He could be walking down the street, and they'll stop him. They are a threat to the community. At least we were able to get it on video this time."
Hair was out on bond when he was arrested on Wednesday, according to the report.
Hair posted $5,000 bail Thursday at the Brevard County Detention Center.